March 18, 2012 4:32pm EDTMarch 18, 2012 4:16pm EDTNorth Carolina forward John Henson, out with a sprained wrist since March 9, will attempt to play through the pain Sunday against Creighton in the NCAA Tournament, a team official confirmed.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — North Carolina forward John Henson, out with a sprained wrist since March 9, will attempt to play through the pain Sunday against Creighton in the NCAA Tournament, a team official confirmed.

“To tell you the truth, yesterday I thought I was going to be fine until I started practicing with the team, at the shootaround,” Henson said Saturday before the Tar Heels' private practice session.

Coach Roy Williams has not announced whether Henson will start in the 5:30 p.m. ET tipoff.

“We're preparing that he is going to play,” Creighton star Doug McDermott said Saturday. “But he's a shot blocker, he can run the floor and he's really athletic. And (James Michael) McAdoo has been starting for them and he's a really good player and real physical and runs the floor, so either way, we're preparing that he will play and both present tough matchups.”

As the competition level increases through the tournament, Henson's presence is becomes far more critical.

On Friday, all the Tar Heels had to do was avoid becoming the first No. 1 seed ever to lose its opening game. On Sunday, they’re facing a battle-tested Creighton team with an elite player in McDermott. They’ll have a much better opportunity to reach the Sweet 16 if Henson can provide productive minutes.

“He brings another dimension on both sides of the court,” North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall said. “I think that to be able to throw him at Doug with his length, it will make it a lot harder. But McAdoo's doing a great job, so whether we're playing with or without John, we're still going to find a way to go out there and compete and make the most of it.”